Our May class lessons were held on 8, 2026, three subjects as usual. Thinking of all the materials I need for the class that make me really miss my old garden. I was glad the class would provide materials for us to use, a little bit challenge for me but I like it this time.
May class lessons: 1) - With Branches Only or A Two- Step Approach (for advanced students)
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| A two steps approach, the branches are featured in this widely spreading horizontally composition |
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| Pink dogwood branch from my yard |
The class provided horsetail for straight line material, I didn’t use it, I used forsythia instead. Unfortunately, I didn’t transplant the horsetail plant to here, I have a lot of them in my old house garden! They are invasive plants.
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| My original design |
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| In class, Sensei changed the position of the Aspidistra to the bottom |
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| Sensei’s demo using horsetail |
I used the big Matinee glass as a container of this subject. Showing the water is another means of expression! I would salute to all the mothers on the Mother’s Day through this arrangement! ( cymbidium, white flower and Asparagus provided, my green vine is bittersweet)
Dewdrops on the tree peony leaves sparkled like diamonds in the sun! I am delighted that my two tree peonies I transplanted to my new garden last fall are well established.
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| Dogwood and Cala Lily |
We had a summer like weather last week, the temperature reached to 80+degrees F! But all good things must come to an end. There is a Hakka saying “春天面時時變” (The weather in spring is unpredictable). One thing for sure spring is here, no winter wind anymore!
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| Dogwood branch, Lily and Aspidistra |
In my mind, I thought my arrangement would be placed on the Toko-no-ma (alcove). But Sensei asked me to put it up on ladder, and she said it worked, could view from below too.
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| In class 4/10/2026 |
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| Everyone placed their arrangement on the ladder, so they can viewed from below |
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| Rearranged at home 4/11/2026 |
I cut a very nice piece of forsythia branch for this basic Slanting Style, composed of Shin and Hikae and omitting Soe. I trimmed a few tiny flowers, arranged in the perfect 45 degrees of shin, and placed Cala lily in 75 degrees of Soe.
The class lessons for April was only two weeks apart from March. The assignments were two basic styles and one free style (viewed from below). My preparation process was almost in a rush! Knowing the flower materials would be provided, all I needed looking for were the branches. I have plenty of forsythia in my yard, I have no other choice.
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| Forsythia, mum and yarrow (4/10/2026) |
In my imagination, the garden of my old house must be colorful this time of year! I really miss all the plants there. Flowers trees and bushes, Lantern Roses and Daffodils might be blooming now! A lot of plants which I planted there were used for Ikebana materials. But here in Rhinebeck my house has none of them but forsythia. Besides, weather here, everything blooming is three weeks later then Bucks County, PA.
The carnation, mum and St. John’s-wort were left over from last class (3/23/2026). They are long lasting flowers. Here is the arrangement:
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| Arranged for my own pleasure using leftover flowers |
